She was one of the biggest and brightest movie stars to ever exist in Hollywood. Highly talented, classy, professional, intelligent, very loyal to her fans, beautiful beyond belief (when she was young), and had a very strong work ethic. She was for real. She had attitude and didn't let anyone push her around. Anyone coming out of the depths of poverty, with nothing, from nowhere, and achieving what she did, maintaining a career for nearly 50 yrs, had to have alot going for them. Forget her slanderous daughter, Christina Crawford, She'll be dead and eventually forgotten someday while the memory of Joan Crawford and her movies will live on.

A competent actress whose real life was probably more interesting than any role she ever played. She embraced the 'movie star' life style and loved being one. She even changed her name to Joan Crawford based on a contest where fans picked a new name for her--I think her real name was Lucille La Seur.

She looked like Boy George on steroids and had a tendency to over act at times. On balance though, good actress and certainly better than most of what Hollywood displays now.

She was never a "great" actress. She had the good fortune to be blessed with a beautiful face, and the luck to appear in some reasonably good movies. Certainly couldn't hold a candle to her chief rival, Ms. B. Davis. Just recently saw "Mildred Pierce", which was entertaining enough, but I couldn't take my eyes off the lovely Ann Blyth, who plays Crawford's sociopathic daughter in the film. Not to get perverse here (although it's a listing on "Mommie Dearest"...why not?), but Blyth is a dead-ringer for a 50's "nudie" model named Marge Mellor, who used to work out of NY for Irving Klaw, the same photographer who made Bettie Page famous (or infamous). As for Ms. Crawford, she died in 1977 of cancer and she's buried in an immense mausoleum in Westchester County, NY- a mausoleum that also serves as a last resting place for Judy Garland, Ed Sullivan, Ona Munson from "Gone With The Wind", Trigger Mike Coppola of the Genovese Crime Family, and members of my own family (notice the emphasis on small "f" there).

Who cares about "Mommy Dearest;" that is a lot of crap anyhow. Joan made great movies and we should enjoy her roles.

As to the "stars," forget about their off-screen lives. We don't go to the flicks to watch their
bios.

She was a good actress with a messed up personal life.

Joan did well and could act with the rest of them back in the day I guess. Her manic-depressive personality ruined the rest of her life.

WITHOUT A DOUBT,THE LOVLIEST
LADY EVER TO GRACE A MOVIE SCREEN.A TRUE EXAMPLE THAT A "MOVIE STAR" CAN BE SAID IN THE SAME CONVERSATION AS "AN ACTRESS OF WHICH SHE HAS FEW RIVALS IN MATCHING HER INTENSITY AND HER TALENT.(AND NO, BETTE DAVIS WAS NOT,AND NEVER WILL BE IN MY OPINION IN THE SAME PANTHEON THAT JOAN CRAWFORD RESIDES.TO FIND DAVIS PLEASE ADVANCE ABOUT 78 RUNG'S DOWN THE HOLLYWOOD LADDER.AND THIS LADDER HAS A TOTAL OF 80 RUNG'S).JOAN,I LOVE YOU WITH A PASSION THAT COULD HAVE MADE YOU SAY CLARK WHO?

I think as an actress, Joan Crawford was a natural talent and her electric screen presence is to this day uncontested. Now as a person, I find her to be quite a paradox in many aspects. In my opinion, she was undoubtedly suffering from a severe personality disorder. It is very hard for society to empathize with mental illness, especially when the illness affects the children of the sufferer(s). There is evidence that Joan was a survivor of emotional abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother. To further add insult to injury, some of the men her mother dated sexually abused her. As a survivor of child abuse and neglect myself, I can see both sides of the coin. It's obvious this mental disorder fueled Joan's drive to succeed and take control of her life by overcoming the unfair hand dealt to her. I do agree that child abuse is wrong, but it's a vicious cycle that if not stopped can go from generation to generation within families. I was petrified at some of the book's content and quite sad for both the children and Miss Crawford. I do believe that like all abusers, she suffered from a very destroyed self-esteem and a lack of love for herself. I also think the pressures of stardom back then had detrimental and severe affects on her mood. It can destroy a person that has been so driven to succeed, when they start having career troubles. I think it manifested itself in how she treated her kids. I think she initially adopted them for publicity, but developed a love for her children. Which in turn, never feeling loved herself, most likely terrified her. In an effort to control these feelings, she reacted very harshly to simple everyday mistakes. I also believe she was so hard on herself and succeeded that she felt that was how you learn. Which means harsh discipline was her way of teaching her children about life. It's quite sad, because if you watch her on screen it is possible to see there was a real and vulnerable person with a big heart. Sadly, she felt this need to project a tough as nails image and although effective onscreen....it did not make for good parenting at all. One thing remains clear to me, I do think she wanted somebody to love and I do truly believe she loved her kids. I mean why else would Christina and her be seen together, even after Joan was no longer a major major star. My point is.....child abusers are in most cases suffering from severe mental illness. Clearly no sane normal person would yell and beat somebody with a wire hanger.

Everyone thinks of Mommie Dearest when Joan Crawford is mentioned but she was one of the greatest beauties and actresses of all time. Her greatest work was in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? She had great acting skills. But people will always remember her for her "wire hangers".

Joan Crawford was a great star, as opposed to being a great actress. Sometimes the latter is actually preferable. But you had to be blind not to see her charisma and prescense on the screen. It's a pity that too many fans only remember her late '40s films onward..she really did become a caricature of herself. Her early '30s MGM films showed her at her seductive best..(look at her in "Grand Hotel" ) though her later MGM films like "the Women" and "A woman's face" are as good as anything she ever did. I suppose the Warner films, especially Mildred Pierce is what she's best remembered for. As to her private life, good or bad, it seems that her career was what was most important to her. That is why the people who helped make her career, like the crews of her films, the cameramen, etc, loved her because she treated them very well. They all say she was a real trouper and very professional.

First of all, I am rating Crawford based soley on the "facts" I know. She was a marvelous actress, whom did have alot of depth. If you saw "a womans face" that's all that needs to be said, my favorite movie of hers bar none. She encompassed everything a true star was, Beauty, talent, loyalty to fans, determination, and good business sense. Now onto Christina. Have you ever thought she could have blown things out of proportion to sell a few books? Isnt it odd her two sisters werent even mentioned in the movie/book.Sisters to whom this day do not talk to her because of the things she said about Joan? Why treat just two children horribly, and not the other two? Doesnt make sense. And to write a book after someone is no longer able to refute the statements is tasteless. Joan's ex, Franchot tone stated the Joan in the book was not the Joan he loved and married. Many stars whom were friends with Joan claimed Christina was a horribly tempered girl, disrespectful, etc. Not exactly your victim personality type. I think she had a vendetta against her mother, as Joan made Christina work for her things, her career, or lack thereof. Christina wanted a career handed on a plate from her mother and her mothers connections, and Joan didn't do it. After all she came from nothing, and new what it meant to work for what you get in life. So I am judging the Joan I know to be true, all accusations aside...... The symbol of the Hollywood star, and Icon of Hollywoods Golden Era.

Mean, nasty and backstabbing- way too weird and a total bitch throughout her life. Acting wise was above average- but the rest is awful.

Can't look at a wire hanger without thinking about her.

Joan Crawford was flawless as an actress. As a human being and as a mother she used people to get what she wanted. When she couldn't manipulate people the way she needed to then she became the tyrant and bully. Her life depicts the mind and psyche of a woman in torment. She carries nearly every attribute of someone with a serious mental illness. A star on the screen she was a horror in real life. What she did on the screen doesn't cancel out her horrendous crimes against other people, and more importantly her own children. She bought her children to increase her image with the press. Imagine what her children have lived through not knowing where they originally came from. They were bought on the black market because Joan couldn't get an adoption agency to qualify her to adopt. She did not want them because she wanted to be a mother. She only wanted them for her own sick motives to advance her career. Dispicable.

3/... No way... The best in the business bar none..

Joan will always be Hollywood Royalty!

Well, all I can say is that she is more than likely burning with the devil right now. I'm only 14 so I won't say any cuss words. But I will say that she was a stupid child abusing a-hole!

Extremely manly looking. Tried to play the femme fatale/ingenue long past her expiration date. This was very embarrassing to watch. Shining moment: Mildred Pierce.

Her acting carried a lot of skill and she was very good at her roles. She was definetly a looker, but a crappy mother. A very crappy mother, but I am rating her as an actress. She was always more realistic in her roles than Katherine Hepburn or Rita Hayworth. I also think Joan was mentally ill. Highly. I don't think she should have had kids. But since I am rating her as a classic actress, She truly is one.

I consider myself a huge Joan Crawford fan--This woman put the S in Star. i dont know, i just love everything about her. her look, her clothes, her films (from the early talkies to the monsterous camp classics), her tough attitude, her ability to rise above her humble beginings....She came from the kind of poverty & abusive background that many stars today no nothing about! So she wasnt the greatest mother--its not her parenting skills that are on screen folks, & i'm not excusing the abuse, which i beleive was true, but i'm sure she wasnt the only Hollywood movie star who was abusive or neglectful to her kids either. SO i think its unfair that this is the only label people know her for considering her body of work as an actress & star.

Child abusing bitch !

Coulden`t hold a candle to Bette Davis...But she was pretty good at acting.

I always thought Joan Crawford oozed sex appeal. She had a nice walk and had beautiful black hair that cascaded down her back. She paired off with Marilyn Monroe fine. But what disturbed me is how she abused her daughter.

Putting the Christina Crawford controversy aside, who can ever foget Joan Crawford...the grand dame of the silver screen during Hollywood's Golden era. She was awesome in such movies as "Mildred Pierce" (which she won an Oscar for) "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" and "The Women" just to name a few. She was truly devoted to her fans, who to this day love her. And her look...the shoulder pads...severe eyebrows...wow!!It was a shame that stars like her were really taken advantage of by the Hollywood studio machines of the day. They may be a little corny for today's tastes, but I still enjoy seeing her movies. A tribute to her I guess!

I guess she is okay. but I have never been a fan of hers. I saw her in Mildred Pierce and she okay in that. and in whatever happened to baby jane. there is something that just comes through as kind of unlikable.she is kind scarey looking with too much makeup and shoulder pads. Maybe my reading Mommie Dearest has changed how i could be a fan of hers. I know I should only be judging by her acting ability but I never thought she was all that great.

Long before Christina Crawford’s infamous “Mommy Dearest” I could never stand Joan Crawford. She was just so bizarrely creepy with her thick black eyebrows, severe mouth, broad shoulders and mean gaze. To me she had all the charm of a really hateful prison matron. Her acting was also just so-so as well and in my observation she exhibited very little depth or variety. I think she had many, many personal issues that extended far beyond those we read about in that tell all book – not the least of them being her complete and utter love affair with her movie star persona.